New Year, old scandal

And when Bob Woodward releases anything linked to those days, I get truly a little bit scarily excited.

So this book made me bliss out (even though it made me sad to see the word “Last” in its title — Bob, don’t let the well dry up!)

It’s the story of Alexander Butterfield, the person who blew the whistle on the taping system in the Oval Office.

I’d always wondered why he spilled the beans, and this book basically answers that question.

Dude was ticked.

He’d given up an important position in the Air Force to work for his old buddy Haldeman in the White House, only to discover his boss’s boss had severe social anxiety and was too nervous to meet him for weeks. (We’re talking here about the President of the United States, people.)

And that’s merely the tip of the iceberg.

One of my favorite lines from the book: “The Nixon inner circle sounded like both snake pit and kindergarten.” (27)

Oh, boy.

So, yeah, some dirt is dished here. Seems like Butterfield’s still kind of holding a grudge, which could cause a person to take this book with a grain of salt, except: Woodward pre-salted it. He acknowledges Butterfield’s lingering anger and knows it’s part of the reason he consented to share long-concealed documents he removed from the White House when he left.